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Chapter 1
Measurement
Physics is a science that deals with the study of matter and energy and their
measurements. In short, physics is the science of measurements. Anything around us
can be measured based on some standards. Fundamental quantities such as Length,
Mass, and Time are usually measured in terms of units assigned to them. Derived
quantities such as speed, acceleration, force, etc. also have assigned units based on
the fundamental units.
1.1 Standard unit for Length, Mass, and Time
1.1.1 Length
Due to the demands of modern science and technology, a more precise standard of length
has been established by the 17th General Conference on Weights and Measures in 1983.
The standard of length or distance is the meter (m). One meter or 1 m length is defined
as the distance traveled by light in a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. This time
interval was chosen in such a way as to coincide with the speed of light c = 299,792,458
meters per second (m/s).With modern equipment, measurement of the speed of light is
extremely precise and so it was used to define the meter. In some cases, distances and
lengths are measured in terms of subunits of the meter such as kilometer (km), decimeter
(dm), centimeter (cm), and millimeter (mm). Table 1 shows some of the useful conversion
of the meter with its subunits.
Useful Conversion
1 km = 1000 m = 103 m
1 m = 10 dm = 100 cm = 102 cm
1 dm = 10 cm = 100 mm = 102 mm =10-1 m
1 cm = 10 mm = 10-2 m
1.1.2 Mass
The standard of mass is based on the mass of the Platinum-iridium cylinder kept at the
International Bureau of Weights and Measures near Paris. By international agreement,
this cylinder is assigned a mass of 1 kilogram (kg). Its height is equal to its diameter and
measures 3.9 cm. Measurement of mass are usually expressed in terms of the subunits
of kilogram such as gram (g) for powders and milligram (mg) for medicines.
Useful Conversion
1 kg = 1000 g = 103 g
1 g = 1000 mg = 103 mg
1 mg = 10-3 g
Mass and Weight are related by the equation
( Weight) = ( mass m) x ( acceleration due to gravity g)
or simply w = mg. The metric unit for weight or force is the Newton (n) in which 1 Newton
is defined as 1 kg. m/s2 or in symbols, 1 n = 1 kg. m/s2. The British unit for weight or force
is the pound (lb) defined as 1 slug. ft/s2. In symbols, 1 lb = 1 [Link]/s2.
1.1.3 Time
Module 1 Compiled by: Jelly Grace B. Nonesa, PhD
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The standard unit for time is the second (s). One second is the time taken by 9,192,
631,770 oscillations emitted by a Cesium-133 atom. The instrument used in measuring
the standard time is the atomic clock. This standard was adopted in 1967 by the 13th
General Conference on Weights and Measures. The time across the globe is usually
expressed in terms of subunits such as hour (hr), minutes (min), day, month, and year.
Useful Conversion
1 min= 60 s
1 hr= 60 min = 3600 s
1 day= 24 hrs
1 yr = 12 months = 365.25 days
1.2 The International System of Units
The metric system is the International System of Units usually abbreviated as SI from its
French name, SystemÐ International. Though the metric system is widely used, some
countries still use the British/English system such as mile (mi), feet (ft), inch, and yard for
length/distance. For force and weight, pound (lb) is used while slug is the unit used for
[Link] units are horsepower (hp) for power and atmosphere (atm) for pressure.
Useful Conversion
1 ft = 12 inches 1 lb = [Link]/s2
1 mi = 5280 ft 1 ton = 2000 lbs
Useful Conversion: English to Metric
1 inch = 2.54 cm Length/Distance
1 slug = 14.6 kg Mass
1 lb = 4.45 n Weight/Force
1 hp = 746 watts Power
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1 atm = 1.01 x 10 Pascal Pressure
1.3 Changing Units
Conversion of units from one system to another or to subunits may be performed by using
the so-called chain-link conversion. In this method, the original measurement is multiplied
by a conversion factor (usually, a ratio of units equivalent to unity). The units are then
manipulated as algebraic quantities until the desired unit remain.
1.4 Solved Problems
Example 1.1 A passenger should be at the airport at least 2 hours before his flight. How
many seconds should it be? To convert 2 hours into the corresponding seconds, the
conversion is usually done as follows:
60 min 60s
2 hrs x x = 7200 s
1hr 1 min
Module 1 Compiled by: Jelly Grace B. Nonesa, PhD
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Here, the unwanted units such as hr and min can be cancelled out to bring out the
desired unit which is the second or s.
Example 1.2 A student who is 5 minutes late for school runs his motorbike with a speed
of 80 km/hr. What is this speed in meters per second?
80km 1000m 1hr
x x = 22.22 m/s
hr 1km 3600 s
The unwanted units such as km and hr are discarded with only the meter (m) and the
second (s) units remaining. Hence, 80 km/hr speed is equal to 22.22 m/s.
Example 1.3 Julius is 5 ft 10 inches tall. How many centimeters is this?
Note that 1 ft = 12 inches and 1 inch = 2.54 cm
5 ft 10 inches = 5 (12) + 10 = 70 inches converting this to cm, we got
2.54cm
70 inches x = 177.8 cm Hence, 5 ft 10 inches = 177.8 cm
1inch
Example 1.4 The area of a certain room is 9 m2. How many square feet is this?
Since 1 m = 3.28 ft, then
3.28 ft
9m2 = 9 m2
2
(3.28 ft )2 = 9 m2x 10.7584 ft 2 = 96.83 ft2
= 9 m2 x
1m (1m)2 1m 2
Example 1.5 Dodie’s house is 125 km by road from the beach. How far is this in miles?
Since 1 km = 0.621 mi
0.621mi
125 km = 125 km x = 77.63 mi
1km
Example 1.6 How many feet per second (ft/s) is 60 mi/hr?
Since 1 mi = 5280 ft and 1 hr = 3600 s
mi mi 5280 ft 1hr
60 = 60 x x = 88 ft/s
hr hr 1mi 3600 s
Module 1 Compiled by: Jelly Grace B. Nonesa, PhD
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1.5 Exercises
1.4.1. How many square meters are there in 36 square feet?
1.4.2. A bus has a speed of 90 mi/hr. Express this in feet per second (ft/s).
1.4.3. An aquarium is 9 cubic feet. Express this volume in cubic meter.
1.4.4. How many cubic feet are there in a cubic meter?
1.4.5. The speed limit in Davao City is 60 km/hr. How many miles per hour is
this?
1.4.6. The speed of a bullet train is 300 m/s. What is this speed in feet per
second? In miles per second? In miles per hour?
1.4.7. Convert a height of 6 feet 2 inches to meter and centimeter.
Module 1 Compiled by: Jelly Grace B. Nonesa, PhD
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1.6 Answers to Exercises
1.4.1 3.35 m2
1.4.2 132 ft/s
1.4.3 0.26 m3
1.4.4 35.29 ft3
1.4.5 37.26 mi/hr
1.4.6 984 ft/s; 0.19 mi/s; 684 mi/hr
1.4.7 1.88 m; 188 cm
Module 1 Compiled by: Jelly Grace B. Nonesa, PhD